Ending the long speculation over leadership in the Delhi BJP, senior Delhi BJP leader Satish Upadhyay has been appointed the new State unit president. His name was announced on Tuesday night after the approval of the Central leadership.
Upadhyay, currently the chairman of the Standing Committee in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), will replace Dr Harsh Vardhan after he was elevated to the Union Cabinet as Health Minister recently. There were others including contemporaries of Upadhyay and his seniors in the party who were contending for the post, but Upadhyay, who is understood to have cordial relation with the party’s top brass and the RSS was finally chosen for the post.
Upadhyay confirmed the development saying he has been intimated about the party’s decision. “The central leadership has conveyed its decision of appointing me as Delhi BJP president. My priority will be to strengthen the party and work collectively towards fulfilling the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Upadhyay told The Pioneer. He, however, skipped questions related to formation of government in Delhi or a possible re-election in the national Capital. “The BJP is yet to take a call on the issue. Any decision in this regard will be taken only after discussion with our central leaders,” Upadhyay added.
Appointment of Upadhyay as the Delhi BJP chief assumed significance as the possibility of re-election looms large in the city. The BJP which fell short of a clear majority by just four MlAs in the 2013 Assembly Elections will be keen on capitalizing on Modi’s vision of development. By nominating Upadhyay as the party president, the BJP has also averted a possible tussle over its Chief Ministerial candidate. Even in the eventuality of the BJP exploring the possibility of Government formation, it would have to project its CM candidate. In the previous election, Harsh Vardhan was the party’s CM nominee, but after his exit from Delhi legislative Assembly, the post of leader of legislative Party has been lying vacant. Sources said, with the appointment of Satish Upadhyay, a councilor from Malviya Nagar in South Delhi, the party has ensured that the party’s presidentship is not used as a stepping stone to become the CM candidate.
